Interchangeable initial belt buckle



J. R. WHITEHOUSE ET AL 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOS 70527 milio/502150 Harold C.' fazlsefz/ m- ,M/ f W 'ATTORNEYS Marh 4, 1952 Filed April 26, 1950 March 4, 1952 J. R. wHlTr-:HOUSE ET AL 2,587,796

INTERCHANGEABLE INITIAL BELT BUCKLE Filed April 26, 195o 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 S e S d mw ma m mimi Mm f www@ WW 4 1% A 0u .Hd D. `/m

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 INTERCHANGEABLE INITIAL BELT BUCKLE John R. Whitehouse and Harold C. Vaisey, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Hickok Manufacturing Co. Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 26, 1950, Serial No. 158,212.1`

This invention relates to belt buckles and more particularly to belt buckles that have associated with the face or `front thereof interchangeable initials or letters or other indicia. Preferably, the belt buckle of the present invention is of the two-initial type and Where the initials are interchangeable and detachably secured to the buckle. Additionally, the said initials or other indicia that are interchangeable with respect to the buckle are in the form of plaques o r plates or the like which constitute the entire visible front surface of the buckle proper and the initials or letters are embossed or otherwise formed or placed on the plaques or plates. While two initials or letters on4 plates oriplaques or the like are shown, it is understood that more than two such initials or letters may be utilized and that, if desired, one largerplaque may be utilized and, in all instances, the plates or plaques which carry the initials or other indicia thereon constitute the sole visible front face ofthe buckle.

In our invention, as aforesaid,- the initials or lettersV or other indicia are embossed, engraved or otherwise formed on and carried by a small plate or plaque, and each plaque carries at least one initial or letter thereon and, when two of such plates or plaques are used the same constitute the entire front visible face of the buckle. The plaques carrying the initials or letters, are associated with each other so that, from all outward visible appearancesjthe tworplaques become as a unit so to speak. and appear as one when viewed in elevation. Y We preferably have the 'opposite side edges of the aforesaid plaques or plates that constitute the entire visible front face of the'buckle inclined with respect yto the vertical `when'viewed in elevation and the letters or initials carried by the said plaques are also preferably inclined with respect to the vertical but, obviously, if desired, the plaques may be made perfectly rectangular in outline with straight parallel opposite side and bottom and top edges. However, the inclination of the opposite sides of the plaques carrying the initials, letters or the like, presents a unique eifect as will be seen from the description in detail hereinafter set forth.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of our invention to provide a'ebelt buckle wherein the entire visible front face thereof is inthe form of an interchangeable and detachable plaque or plaquesor'plates and wherein the plaque or plate orrplates has suitable indicia on the front surface thereof.

Another object of our invention is to provide 6 Claims. (Cl. 40e-140) two initialed or lettered Aplaques, the opposite `side! edges of which are inclined withrespect tothe vertical and which plaques are readily associated with the buckle proper and detachably secure to and carried thereby.`

Another object of our invention is to provide the interchangeable plaques carrying suitable in-4 dcia on the front face thereof and which plaques are readily handled by the retailer and are, likewise, readily secured `to the buckle structure by simple sliding manipulation of the said plaques onto the buckle structure and providing means acting automatically to maintain the plaques in their proper association with the buckle structure. l A

With these andother objects in view, the invention consists inthe construction and -novel combination and `arrangement oiparts herein-L after fully described, illustrated in the eccome panying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it `being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of-construction, within the scope `ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. y l In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in l.perspective showing the buckle attached to one end of the belt and with the free end of the belt clamped in the buckle; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the major oom-l ponent elements oi the buckle;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of the buckle attached to a belt and showing the angular or inclined disposition of the front` initial panels of the buckle; Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the buckle without the belt clamping means associated therewith;

Fig. 5 isla vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 3 looking vertical section similar to the invention shown in Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one element of the modications of the invention as shown in Fig. 9. Y l, ,l The invention will bemore readily understood by referring to the drawings in detail wherein like Y reference numerals in the several figures of the drawings all denote the same parts.

The belt buckle denoted generally at B consists of a rear portion or element denoted generally at IB and a face portion denoted generally at II. The rear portion ofthe buckle is actually a channel-shaped frame and the buckle, as depicted in the drawings and modification is generally curved but, of course, may be carried out in a straight plane. The rear frame of the buckle is substantially rectangular in outline but, of course. may be of other shape and outline and includes a rear wall l2 which is preferably slightly curved from one end to the other. Medially of and throughout the length of the curved rear wall, there is a raised platform I3 which extends from end to end of the buckle. This platform is spaced inwardly of the opposite side edges I4 and I5 of the buckle frame and thus provides oppositely disposed lower portions of the back plate I6 and I1, which said portions constitute the inner wall of a curved groove or slideway hereinafter more fully described.A l

The rear plate I2 has integral with the said lower side edge portions I6 and II, right angularly extending spaced similarly formed flanges I8 and I9 respectively, these flanges emerging into elongated webs and 2| which preferably taper or narrow in width from adjacent one end of the buckle to the other end thereof. These webs 20 and 2| are in spaced parallel relationship with the said rear wall I2 and form therewith a through passageway P in the buckle. The said webs 20 and 2| terminate short of one end of the buckle as indicated at 22 and 23 respectively and erly registered and associated with the rear wall l2 nofthe buckle frame and this initial carrying wall 26 is preferably ilxedly secured to the said rear wall I2 by soldering (not shown) or by welding, if desired. or securedrin any other suitable manner.

'Adjacent one end 32 of the initial carrying wall 26, and at a side edge thereof, there is struck out a downwardly extending abutment 33 which serves to limit the inward sliding movement .of the first ornamented plate that is associated with the buckle frame structure. Only one such abutment 33 is shown but it is obvious that another abutment opposite the same may also be utilized, if desired, and, likewise, instead of utilizing only one of the spring tongues T, another of such tongues T may also be utilized at the other side of the initial carrying wall 26.

It will be seen, particularly from Fig. l of the drawings, that when the initial carrying. and

`vg'uidejforming Wall 26 is fixed to the raised or Vchannel shaped medial portion I3 of the rearwall I2, opposite side edge portions 34 and 35 overlie the depressed or lowered portions I5 and I`| respectively of the said rear wall I2 and thus slightly curved grooves or guideways 35 and 31 are provided at opposite side edges of the buckle frame l"and these grooves or guideways are, of course,

` portion 38 thereof, are substantially rectangular the ends of these webs 20 and 2| are formed into eyelets or bearings 24 and 25, which bearings are disposed opposite each other within the buckle and the same are in alignment and constitute the bearing or mounting means for the ratchet clamping means hereinafter described in detail. These said bearings 24 and 25 are formed simply by rolling around the free ends of the elongated and preferably tapering webs 20 and 2|. right-angularly disposed flanges I8 and I9 of the buckle frame also preferably taper in width from one end of the buckle to the other end and the taper being preferably opposite to the taper of the webs 20 and 2| that are attached thereto as clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The frame structure of the buckle is completed by means of a preferably rectangularly shaped The in outline and each of these plates, which are similarly formed except for the indicia on the face thereof, includes a base portion 38 which is preferably slightly recessed with respect to the preferablyrinclined edge border 39 which` surrounds the same. The plates O are each provided with a right-angularly extending ilange 40 at the top thereof and a similar flange 4| at the bottom thereof and these flanges each have integral therewith and at a right angle thereto, suitable spaced upper and lower tongues 42 and 43 respectively, and these tongues are in substantial parallelism with the face of the initialed or lettered plates O.

initial carrying and slide or guideway forming wall 26, which substantially conforms in shape and size to the complete rear wall I2 of the buckle and, of course, this initial carrying wall 25 is curved similarly to the said rear wall of the buckle. This initial carrying wall 26 is positioned and registered on the said rear wall l2 of the buckle frame by means of spaced depressions 21 and 28 which register with similarly formed projectons or protuberances 29 and 30 respectively on the outer portion of the rear wall l2. The wall is provided at one side edge portion thereof with an integral spring tongue T, which tongue extends slightly below the inner surface 3| of the initial carrying wall and serves to effectively lock the interchangeable plates or plaques in their proper association with the frameso as to constitute the entire visible front face of the buckle as herein after described.

` When the protuberances 29 and 30 are properly registered with the recesses or indentations 21 and 28. the initial carrying wall 26 will be prop- The opposite side edges 44 and 45 of the ini-Y tialed or lettered plates are constituted by the inclined border or frame forl the plates. As the initial structures are identical, only one of the same has been described in detail. It will be noted that the said inclined opposite side edges 44 and -45 are, in addition to the inclination with respect to the recessed base 38, also inclined with respect to the vertical so as to s'et off the display of the said plates or plaques, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and it will be noted that, when two such initials are mounted on the buckle frame as in Fig. 3, the said inclined edges 44 and 45 abut each other as at A and it, therefore, gives the appearance of a single plate constituting the entire front face of the buckle f as` the line of demarcation between the abutted open-sided grooves 35 and 31 respectively and slide these tongues in the said grooves until the asoman innermost Atongue of the firsts plate or plaque that.

is applied engages the abutment 33. ofi the initial carrying guide or slide forming wall 26 as clearly seen in Fig. 6. When the second plate or plaque, with the initial or letter or other indicia l thereon, likewise, has its tongues 42 and 43 aligned with the said grooves 36 and 31 respectively, the same is, by sliding movement, applied to the buckle frame and the portion of the tree end of the spring tongue T in the wall' 26 is so dimensioned and positioned that it will automatically snap behind the said tongue as shown at 46 in Figs. 6 and 7.

The buckle structure is completed by the combined ratchet or cam type belt clamping means denoted generally at C and includes an enclosed loop, structure 41 to which one end of a belt is adapted to be secured, andthe right-angularly extending preferably serrated belt gripping bar 48, and which ratchet or clamping element includes oppositely disposed vertically aligned pintles 49. These pintles 49 areso dimensioned and proportioned as regards their length and cross-sectional diameter` as to be disposed and` rotatably held in the bearings or eyes 24 and 25 that are formed at the ends of the tapered webs 2l] and 2| respectively. As will be seen, particularly from Fig. 6 of the dra-wings. the ratchet clamping element C, when positioned and heldA in the bearings 24 and 25, is free to rotate therein and one end of the belt 50 is reversely bent upon itself as at 5l and is secured as by stitching indicated at 52 and this end, of course, surrounds the loop 41 and thus the said end of the belt is attached to the buckle or vice versa. The free end of the belt 53, and which preferablysincludes a point end 54, as seen in Figs. l, 3 andV 6, has'J beenpassed through the passageway P that is defined by the said spaced webs 20 and 2|, and:` the inner portion of the rear wall l2; and, as seen" ingFig. 6, the serratedbar 48 is in gripping rela-Q tionship with the free end of the belt 53 and, thus,` this free end isV adjustably and detachably secured to the buckle or vice versa.

The buckle, as shown in the modification of i the invention in Fig. v9, is quite similar in construction to the buckle as shown in the cross sectional view Fig. '1. In Fig. 9, however, the initial carrying or guide or slide forming wall 26 is the substantially channel shaped member and inf cludes opposite raised side edge portions 55 and 56 and, ofcourse, one or more spring tongues T are formedin the initial carrying wall 26 similar to the tongue or tongues T shown in the other iigures of the drawing. Thus, the raised side edge portions 55 and 56 form, with the complementary side edge portions 51 and 58 respectively yof the rear wall i2, the grooves 36 and 31, into which grooves the tongues 42 and 43 respectively of the ornamented plates or plaques O are adapted to enter and be secured therein as hereinbefore described in connection with the other figures of the drawings.

It will be seen that, when the plates` with the ornamentation on the face thereof are associated with the frame of the buckle, in elect, the rec;- tangular shaped initial carrying or guide or slide forming wall 26 actually supports these plates or plaques in a manner so that the plates or plaques constitute the entire visible front face of the buckle as clearly seen in Figs. l, 3 and 7 and 9 of the drawings.

Additionally, and as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings, the initial carrying wall 26 also includes the abutment 33 which serves the same r lfunction and; purpose as described herelnbemr'ey:

The buckle and its modification,` `as described herein, is, of course,'fabricated fromV metal. The initial carrying wallH26, it will beunderstood, is preferably made of a thinner gauge metal than the frame of the buckle and this metal possesses inherent resilient characteristics. Thus the tongues T are indeed resilient.

In order to release the ornamented plates or plaques that are locked in engagement with the frame of the buckle, there is provided an opening U inthe buckle frame which is disposed directly beneath'and in alignment with the free spring end ofthe tongue T and, by inserting `a small.` pin or rodcr the like through this opening Ug'the spring. tongue T can be raised from its engagement with one of the tongues 42 or 43 as the case may be and Ythus the ornamented plate is released and can be readily slid off of the frame.

We. claim:

1. A belt buckle comprising a main frame member including a rectangular shaped rear plate, an ornamental plate carrying rectangular shaped plate of substantially the same size as said rear plate secured thereon at the front side thereof in opposed face to face relation therewith, said plates having oppositely disposed spaced upper and lower marginal portions forming longitudinally extending grooves, an ornamental plate slidably mounted on said ornamental. plate carrying plate, said ornamental plate` having at the upper and lower edges thereof anges extending rearwardly at substantially a right` angle thereto, said flanges having inwardly extending. spaced tongues integral therewith slidably engaging in said grooves, a stop portion on theornamental plate carrying plate near one end thereofl engaging one of said tongues `and limitinglongitudinal sliding movement of the ornamental plate in one direction, and a spring tongue on theorna-v mental plate carrying plate projecting rearwardly therefrom into one of said` groovesand adapted to engage one of said tongues to hold the ornamental plate in `position on the plate carrying plate.

2. A belt buckle comprising a main frame member including a rectangular. shaped .rear plate, an ornamental plate carrying rectangular shaped plate of substantially the same sizeias said rear plate secured thereon at thefront side there"- .of in opposed face to face relation therewith, said plates having oppositely disposed spaced upper and lower marginal portions forming longitudinally extending grooves, an ornamental plate slidably mounted on said ornamental plate carrying plate, said ornamental plate havingiatfthe -upper and lower edges thereof flanges extending rearwardly at substantially a right angle thereto, said flanges having inwardly extending spaced tongues integral therewith slidably engaging in said grooves, a stop portion on the ornamental plate carrying plate near one end thereof len gaging oneof sai-d tongues and limiting longitudinal sliding movement of the ornamental plate in one direction, andaspring tongue on the Aornamental plate carrying plate projecting rearwardly therefrom into one of said grooves and adapted to engage a side edge of one of said .tongues to hold theornamental plate in position tudinally extending marginal portions offset laterally from the plane of the major part thereof and away from the corresponding opposing upper and lowermarginal portions ofthe other plate and forming therewith upper and lower grooves, an ornamental plate slidably mounted on said or'- namental plate carrying plate, said ornamental plate having at the upper and lower edges thereof flanges extending rearwardly at.A substantially a right angle thereto, said flangesA having inwardly extending spaced tongues integral therewith slidably engaging in said grooves, a stop portion on the ornamental plate carrying plate near one end thereof engaging one of said tongues and limiting longitudinal sliding movement of the ornamental plate in one direction, and a spring tongue on the ornamentalplate carrying 'plate projecting rearwardly therefrom into one of said grooves and adapted to engage one of said-tongues to hold the ornamental plate inposition on the plate carrying plate.

4. A belt buckle comprising a main frame member including a rectangular shaped rear plate, an ornamental plate carrying rectangular shaped plate of substantially the same size as said rear platesecured thereon at the front side thereof in opposed face to face relation therewith, the rear plate having upper and lowerdepressed marginal portions spaced from the corresponding'opposing marginal portions of the ornamental plate carrying plate and providing therewith upper and lower grooves, an ornamental plate slidably mounted on said ornamental plate carrying plate, said ornamental plate having at the upper and lower edges thereof flanges extending rearwardly at substantially a right angle thereto, said flanges having inwardly exf tending spaced tongues integral therewith slidably engaging in said grooves,A a stop portion on the ornamental plate carrying plate near one end thereof engaging one of said tongues and limiting longitudinal sliding movement of the ornamental plate in one direction, and a spring tongue on the ornamental plate carrying plate projecting rearwardly therefrom into one .of said grooves and adapted to engage one of said tongues to` hold thev ornamental plate in position on the plate carrying plate.

`5. A belt buckle comprising a main frame member including an elongated rectangular shapedrear plate, an ornamental plate carrying elongated rectangular shaped plate of substantially the same size as said rear plate secured on said -rear plate at the front side thereof in opposed face-to face relation therewith, said plates yhaving' oppositely disposed spaced upper and lower'v marginal portions forming longitudinally extendingrgrooves, va plurality of ornamental plates 'slidably Imounted on said ornamental plate carrying plate, with the opposing side edges-of the ornamental plates fitting one against the other,each of said ornamental plates having at the upper and lower edges thereof anges ex- `tending rearwardly at substantially a right angle thereto, said flanges having inwardly extending spaced tongues integral therewith slidably engaging in said grooves, a stop portion on the ornamental plate carrying plate near one end thereof cooperating with one of said tongues of one of the ornamental plates and limiting longitudinal sliding movement of the same in one direction, and a spring tongue on said ornamental plateI carrying plate projecting rearwardly theree from into one of said grooves adapted to engage one of the tongues of one of the ornamental plates a platesslidably mounted on said ornamental plate carrying plate, said ornamental plates each having parallel inclined side edges and each ornamental platehaVing a letter on the front side thereof disposed at an inclination corresponding to the inclination of the side edges'of the ornamental plate, the opposing inclined side edges of the ornamental plates fitting one against the other, said ornamental plates constituting the entire visible front face of the buckle when viewed in elevation, each of said ornamental plates vhaving at the upper and lower edges thereof flanges extending rearwardly at substantially a right angle thereto, said flanges having inwardly extending spaced tongues integral therewith slidably en'- gaging in said grooves, a stop portion on the ornamental plate carrying plate near one end thereof cooperating with one of said tongues of oneo the ornamental plates and limiting longitudinal sliding movement of the same in one directiomand a spring tongue on said ornamental plate carrying plate projecting rearwardly therefrominto one of said grooves adapted to engage one' of the tongues of one of the ornamental plates to hold the ornamental platesin position on said plate carrying plate.

JOHN R. WHITEHOUSEV. HAROLD CrvAIsEY. v

' 'REFERENCES orrlm The following references are pf record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

